I aspire to help children. Growing up in a poor neighborhood, I understand the challenges many children suffer due to lack of basic necessities. The one saving grace in my life was the love and encouragement I received from parents and relatives. I had their strength to lean on in times of need, and I trusted that they wanted only the best for me.
Unfortunately, many children lack the stability and love of a stable family. They do not have the support needed to grow into healthy, responsible adults. Because of my own experiences growing up, I am passionate about supporting organizations that help children who aren’t as fortunate as I was.
As a member of the Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Inclusion & Diversity Council, I began working with Children’s Bureau + Families First which is now known as Firefly Children & Family Alliance. In the last year, the organization has combined their efforts to help Indiana’s youth and families. They are two of Indiana’s most established nonprofits with roots in the community going back more than 185 years.
Families First has been supporting and strengthening Indiana families since 1835 when it was founded as the Indianapolis Benevolent Society. The society also established The Widows and Orphans Friends’ Society founded in 1851 as an outreach later giving rise to the Children’s Bureau.
The united organizations bring nearly 350 years of combined experience serving Indiana children, youth, adults and families in need. Their purpose is to help families overcome the challenges that sometimes lead to unhealthy behaviors and threaten a child’s well-being.
What does Firefly Children & Family Alliance First do?
Firefly Children & Family Alliance offers an array of human services to Indiana children and families. Guided by the vision of a healthy family for every child, they retain highly trained case managers to identify and address issues that tear families apart. They do so in the following ways:
Prevent – Empower families with professional support and community resources to eliminate issues that lead to entry into the child welfare system.
Intervene – Work with families who find themselves in the “system” to accomplish the required goals to keep their children.
Protect – Recruit and strengthen foster and adoptive homes.
Support – Mentor older youth transitioning from foster care to independent living.
How can I help Firefly Children & Family Alliance?
Firefly Children & Family Alliance is always in need of volunteers to help support their families and children. Current volunteer opportunities include the Donation Room at the Gene Glick Family Support Center on 1575 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Indianapolis. This takes place Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Volunteers will help sort and organize inventory, wash gently used clothing and fulfill requests from case managers for their clients’ needs.